Feature
Slashing Superfluous Labs
(from the February 1, 2023 ACP Hospitalist)
Unnecessary lab orders have long been a target for quality improvement initiatives. In fact, the Society of Hospital Medicine's Choosing Wisely recommendation against routinely performing repetitive complete blood counts (CBCs) and other labs in stable patients turns 10 years old this month.
I.M. Internal Medicine
Spotlight: Bright Thilagar, MD, MMM, FACP, SFHM
Read why Dr. Thilagar became a physician and what it's like to work in a consultative medicine practice at the Mayo Clinic.
Council of Student Members (CSM) Spotlight
Global Health Rotation in Tanzania: The Most Transformative Experience of My Fourth Year
Due to the cost, some patients only come in when their symptoms are too hard to tolerate. On my first day, we visited a man in convulsions due to hyperuricemia because he struggled to gather sufficient funds for a needed dialysis session. Another man was already in a coma and passed away shortly after his catheter was placed without ever waking up.
Medical Student Perspective
Finding My Way Through the Storm
Shattered glass, splintered wood, uprooted trees, mudslides, and flooding were everywhere. We were without running water or electricity for over a week. After struggling by myself in the beginning of Maria's aftermath, I finally reached out for help, seeking solace from mentors, therapists, and other support groups.
Efforts on Misinformation
ACP is proud to participate in the newly established Coalition for Trust in Health & Science which includes more than 50 leading health organizations. The coalition's goals are to support science-based health decisions through credible information and enhanced trust in health and science organizations and professionals, and to debunk disinformation and misinformation. The group also aims to help the public in making science-based, personally appropriate choices and decisions for themselves, their families and the communities in which they live and work.
Policy Brief
New recommendations in a policy brief oppose government restrictions that would erode equitable access to reproductive health care services, including family planning, sexual health information, the full range of medically accepted forms of contraception, and abortion.
Analyzing Annals
Short-Term Adverse Outcomes After Mifepristone–Misoprostol Versus Procedural Induced Abortion. A Population-Based Propensity-Weighted Study and The War on Reproductive Health Care in the United States
This population-based cohort study compared the risk for adverse events within 42 days of a medical or procedural abortion in Ontario, Canada, where mifepristone–misoprostol has been available free of charge in pharmacies to pregnant persons with a prescription from a physician. The accompanying editorial discusses the findings and why access to safe abortion, along with access to effective contraception, is critical to improving maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Annals of Internal Medicine is the premier internal medicine academic journal published by the ƹϵεapp (ACP). It is one of the most widely cited and influential specialty medical journals in the world.
Winning Abstracts from the 2022 Abstracts Competition
ANCA Madness: Infective Endocarditis with Positive Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)
Identification: Patient is a 51-year-old female. Chief Complaint: fatigue, abnormal lab findings History: Patient with history of hypertension, severe mitral regurgitation, and ventricular tachycardia status post ICD placement in 2016, who presents after a nephrology visit for abnormal labs including hemoglobin of 5.7 g/dl and creatinine >6 mg/dl.
Want to have your abstract featured here? ACP holds a National Abstracts Competition as part of the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting every year. Find out more at ACP Online.
Subspecialty and Combined Training Careers
Cardiac Electrophysiology
Clinical cardiac electrophysiology represents advanced training in cardiovascular disease and focuses on management of complex cardiac electrophysiologic disease of the heart. Often called “electrophysiologists,” these internal medicine physicians are trained in the mechanism, function, and performance of the electrical activities of the heart.
See what makes internal medicine unique and all the career pathways open to internal medicine physicians. Be sure to also explore a day in the life of an internal medicine specialist/subspecialist.
Chagas Disease
Chagas disease, which is caused by infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a leading neglected tropical disease in the United States. An estimated 240 000 to 350 000 people in the United States are infected, primarily immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America, where the disease is endemic.
Get Involved
Want to learn more about health advocacy? Join ACP for its annual two-day advocacy event in Washington, D.C. where ACP members from across the country bring issues of concern to U.S. lawmakers. Those interested in attending are advised to first reach out to their ACP chapter governor as state chapters typically coordinate their delegations participating in Leadership Day. Registration is free for medical students, but space is limited. Deadline to register is Thursday, April 20.
Many ACP local chapter meetings were announced in February. See when your local chapter meeting is scheduled to submit an abstract, network with physicians in your area, or learn more about leadership opportunities in your chapter.
IMIG Event Inspiration
Meet the Matched: Internal Medicine Event
Students at Wayne State School of Medicine in Detroit organized a panel of 8 fourth-year medical students who had matched in a variety of internal medicine residency programs from across the country. Over 100 students turned out to ask questions about the matching process.
2023 Match Day Results
Record High Internal Medicine Residency Match Reflects Vital Role of Internal Medicine Physicians
The 2023 Main Residency Match revealed that internal medicine remains the largest training specialty, offering more than one-quarter (26 percent) of all PGY-1 positions in the Match. Internal medicine programs offered a record high 9,725 categorical positions, with offered primary care internal medicine positions climbing to 453.
Chapter Chatter
Network with members of your local chapter over light food and drinks when you attend the 2023 Internal Medicine Meeting in April. Although agendas may vary, join your chapter's reception to catch up with fellow members and acknowledge national awardees and abstract presenters.
The membership of ACP is divided into 85 chapters and regions, each uniquely tailored to the needs and interests of its members. See what events are coming up in your local chapter.
“Quiz Me!” Question
Test your medical knowledge each month with questions from The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP).
A 72-year-old man was diagnosed 9 years ago with prostate cancer. After radiation treatment, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level dropped to a nadir of 1.5 ng/mL (1.5 µg/L); it had remained stable until it rose to 2 ng/mL (2 µg/L) 1 year ago and is currently 3.2 ng/mL (3.2 µg/L). He has no symptoms. Medical history is unremarkable, and he takes no medications.
The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP) has been the “go-to” resource for board prep and lifelong learning since 1967. Learn more.
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